Fiancés Al Farb and Gage Picotte
Radio personality Al Farb and fiancé Gage Picotte launch podcast about their journey to the altar
STEVEN LINDSEY | Contributing writer
stevencraiglindsey@gmail.com
Ask anyone who’s been intimate with another human being for longer than a 15-minute hookup and they’ll tell you: Relationships can be challenging. Downright difficult at times. Pull-your-hair-out moments of insanity.
But also weeks, months, years, and decades of love and nonstop adventures.
Once someone finds that special someone and enters an LTR, people inevitably want to know the secret to relationship success. So, naturally, New Country 96.3 FM’s Assistant Program Director and on-air personality Al Farb and his social media influencer fiancé Gage Picotte, plan to broadcast their secrets to the world — or stream them, as the case may be.
Before they got to the podcast stage of their relationship, the couple spent a little over two years together before Farb proposed to Picotte in front of both of their families during Thanksgiving dinner at an Air BnB in Houston. After everyone around the table told what they were thankful for, Farb’s turn arrived.
“I spoke about how excited I was for our families finally meeting for the first time, and then I said how thankful I was for my boyfriend. And at that point, I started to get down on my knees, pulled out a Barbie Purse I had hidden underneath the table. And inside were block letters in a Barbie-inspired font that read ‘WILL YOU MARRY ME?’” Farb recalls.
When Picotte saw the purse, he was so excited about the fashion accessory itself he didn’t want to open it. But Farb insisted there was something else inside.
“It took him a second to realize what was happening, but once he did, his face lit up bigger than I had ever seen before, and he started crying and said, ‘Yes! Absolutely!’”
That’s the type of story listeners will hear in even more detail when the enGAGEd AF podcast debuts. A teaser for the series was set to be released today (Friday, Aug. 2.)
“This limited series podcast will focus on the two of us, how we met, the engagement and the trials and tribulations of planning a big gay wedding, in Texas, in 2024/2025! All the family drama, the relationship drama that we’ve never experienced before as a couple, and of course, our listeners get an up close and personal seat to all the fun we’re having along the way,” Farb says.
They were inspired to do this podcast after Picotte’s former boss, Trey Luker-Stewart, created a podcast with his now-husband Zach, called the “Mister Mister” podcast.
“Their mission, as is ours, is to inspire other LGBTQ couples during their wedding planning process, as there’s not much out there when it comes to queer weddings specifically. Their podcast details their wedding planning experience for a destination wedding in Mexico, and ours will detail a domestic-based wedding — and the price difference. Ugh!”
Farb says that he and Picotte discovered that most websites or guides cater to gender norms for “brides” and “grooms.” Bucking many traditions, they opted out of exchanging engagement rings and each bridegroom’s wedding party will be mixed-gender.
“Instead of the traditional groomsmen and bridesmaids, we’re calling them all our ‘Best Bitches.’ Even my nephew and his sister!” Farb laughs.
“It’s most important to tell the world to be yourself. Stand your ground and do whatever the hell you want. Unless they’re paying for something — then they get a say.”
After the wedding, they intend to transition the podcast to one where they can discuss other topics and events important to the couple, in addition to their relationship.
Follow the latest about their podcast launch on Instagram @engagedafpod or their individual social media accounts, @alfarb and @boiigage.